Corinth adopts liquor and wine ordinance

CORINTH – Corinth’s city board unanimously adopted an ordinance on Wednesday to initiate the legal sale of alcoholic beverages and wines that mirrors the state Alcohol Beverage Control Board’s regulations.
A second motion, offered by Ward 1 Alderman Andrew “Bubba” Labas and seconded by Ward 3 Alderman A.L. “Chip” Wood, asks the ABC Board for an exception to the hours of operation permitted Monday through Saturday and also on Sunday.
Ward 4 Alderman J.C. Hill and At-large Alderman Mike Hopkins voted against the second motion.
The ABC Board’s regulations permit on-premise sales of alcohol and wine and off-premise sales in package stores between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and prohibit sales on Sunday.
However, the Corinth board approved the motion to ask for an exception from the ABC Board that would allow Corinth to end Monday through Saturday sales at 9 p.m. and permit on-premise sales Sunday 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Before the city board voted on the ordinance, Pastor Randy Bostick of Oakland Baptist Church urged that aldermen not adopt an ordinance that would permit alcohol sales on Sunday.
The current law that permits legal beer sales allows beer to be sold after 1 p.m. Sundays.
If the ABC Board approves the special hours requested, the Board of Aldermen voted to align hours of sales for beer with those for liquor and wine.
Ordinances approved by the city usually take effect 30 days after adoption.
However, a ruling by the ABC Board on the special request may delay implementation of the new ordinance.
The city board adopted an additional provision that retailers who receive an alcoholic beverage permit must carry a minimum $1 million liability insurance and $1 million liquor liability insurance.
lena.mitchell@journalinc.com